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Eat, Think, Praise!

The busyness of the season tends to breathe a cold chill on us until we remember who’s in charge of our hearts’ thermostats.

We are!

“Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.” Proverbs 4:23

Eat Jesus & Turn up the Heat!

“You are what you eat.”

Sometimes this saying echoes in my mind when I devour God’s Word, but mostly, I think of it when I’m reading one of a hundred Kindle books, and the Spirit calls for my attention.

Why is it so easy, so tempting, to fill up on Twinkie books at the expense of reading the Bible?

Satan reaches into his arsenal of distractions ~ even good ones ~ to keep us away from the gold mine.

The busier we are, the more we need a sweet retreat with Jesus. He warms our souls with the washing of His Word. He renews our minds and teaches us how to think, how to conform to His image ~ so we can reflect His love and maximize our impact on the world.

Think Jesus & Turn Down the Cold!

No thanks to television news, my imagination, and my neighbor’s yappy chihuahua, it takes effort to focus on the character of Jesus. But bless my heart when I do! Because there’s no better thought in the world…

“Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” Philippians 4:8

When I trudged into church with a bad mood one day, my pastor played a video by S. M. Lockridge, and my blahs didn’t stand a chance! Because when you feast on God’s goodness, He fans the flames of your passion. Your problems, worries, and fears shrink in the light of His flaming love. See for yourself how your perspective changes.

Praise Jesus & Keep it on Auto!

King David pulled off all stops on praise when he sang, danced, and worshipped with all his might. People thought he was out of his mind, but he was too focused on God to care! Maybe it isn’t such a bad thing to be out of our minds ~ especially if they’re dragging us down.

David knew praise begins with an attitude of thankfulness.

“Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise.” Psalm 100:4

During the rocky early years of my marriage, I didn’t feel like thanking God for my husband, but decided to thank Him anyway. I thanked God in my heart and I thanked him aloud to my husband. “Dwight, I’m thankful God gave you to me.” Sometimes I found it difficult to see something I was thankful for; but when I honestly started to look and I opened the eyes of my heart, I could always find something positive.

Inch by inch, my husband and I breathed God-praises into our marriage and watched God honor the fruit of our lips with restoration.

Perhaps we can start this praise habit by thanking God that we don’t need to settle for cold wintery hearts?

Thank you, God, that we can adjust our hearts’ thermostats by putting You first, and meditating on Your greatness! Thank you that we can place our highest expectations where they belong ~ on You, not on fallible people and circumstances. And thank you that in Your presence, there is fullness of joy. When we break into praise, You allow us to gift ourselves (and the world) with happier, hot-for-Jesus hearts!

“Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:16

Merry Christmas!

Have you ever praised Jesus when you didn’t feel like it? What happened?

When it comes to eating, thinking, and praising Jesus, which of these will you do more of this Christmas season?

About Cheryl Ricker

Cheryl Ricker wrote"A Friend in the Storm” (Zondervan) and “Rush of Heaven: One Woman's Miraculous Encounter with Jesus,” (HarperCollins, Oct 2014), and is currently working on another true life supernatural thriller.

8 thoughts on “Eat, Think, Praise!”

Cheryl, this is so important to remember to thank God for everything. When I decide to look at a situation with thanksgiving, no matter what, I can always find something redeeming to praise God for. And it’s my attitude and heart that is changed. Isn’t it wonderful that we serve a God who gives the gift of redemption?

Ah, yes… the incomparable gift of redemption. Indeed, we’re a blessed people! May we never forget it. And Lord, I thank You for this caring community at WordServe, and for Melissa and her comment. Melissa, I’m listening to Christmas music, rejoicing in Emmanuel, God with us. The snow keeps falling, covering everything with its glistening feathery whiteness. Redemption…

Cheryl, Thank you so much for this timely reminder of who I am in Him, of where my supply comes from. Just this morning, I felt something deeper in my prayer time. Hard to describe but He and I were closer, more intimate. And He inspired me to 2,000 words in my ghostwriting project quicker than I’ve ever done. Begin the day in praise and feeding on His Word and great things happen.

You’re so welcome, Henry! Isn’t God good? He’s so good, I don’t want to miss anything He has for my day. Make great things happen to and through you today and every day. May this be your happiest New Year ever!

I love the way you say that, Anita! “Fill up on God’s word before I attempt to share His feast with others.”

We all want to give our gifts to God; but more than our writing, more than our speaking, God wants our hearts, pure and simple. If we align our hearts with His, if we make Him number One and fill up on His heart, we’ll be in the best possible place to use our gifts to bless others.

Cheryl, thank you for beautifully expressing such timeless and oh-so-practical truths. I’m reminded of Ephesians 3:19, (a verse I overlooked for years, so eager was I to get to verse 20!), where it talks about being filled with all the fullness of God. My prayer is to be so filled with our Lord that when life squeezes me, what comes out will be of Him: His love, peace, joy, patience, etc. Spending time with Him first thing every morning for that daily filling has changed my life. Nothing this side of heaven is as sweet or rich as being with Jesus!